Residential Care Worker (SIL) — Day Shift & Sleepover Specialists

Location: Shellharbour (Illawarra)
Employment Type: Part-time
Award/Classification: SCHADS Award — Social & Community Services Level 2 (classification based on skills/experience)
Department: Supported Independent Living (SIL)

About SHCS

Sydney Health & Care Services (SHCS) supports people to live independently with dignity, safety, and genuine choice. Our teams are professional, warm, and values-driven — we back each other and we put participants first.

The Role

We're hiring two Residential Care Workers for complex behaviours and acquired brain injurys (ABI).

Role A — Day Shift Specialist: Stabilise routine, community access, appointments, daily living, documentation.

Role B — Sleepover Specialist: Calm, consistent evening routine, safe house settling, sleepover coverage, morning handover.

You'll thrive here if you bring a calm, assertive presence, strong boundaries, and resilience. The participant responds best to workers who provide clear structure and confident guidance while staying respectful and person-centred.

Key Responsibilities

Provide high-quality in-home support: personal care, meal prep, domestic tasks, and medication prompting/recording (within scope and policy).

Implement Behaviour Support Plan (BSP) consistently; use de-escalation strategies and keep excellent ABC/incident notes when required.

Navigate contexts that may include drug use exposure with professionalism and safety; follow risk protocols at all times.

Support skill-building, routine adherence, and community access as clinically indicated.

Maintain accurate records in ShiftCare/BambooHR/SharePoint (shift notes, incidents, progress).

Work collaboratively with the SIL team, clinicians (e.g., OT/psych), and management; contribute to case reviews and safety planning.

Uphold professional boundaries, infection control, WHS, and safeguarding requirements.

Roster & Expectations

Day Shift Specialist: Typical blocks within 6–8 hours between mornings and afternoons (final pattern set with the manager).

Sleepover Specialist: Afternoon/evening active support + sleepover + morning wrap-up (occasional active-overnight if required).

Includes weekends and public holidays on rotation. Consistency and reliability are essential.

About You (Success Profile)

Calm authority & assertiveness: You lead with structure, clarity, and follow-through.

Resilient & non-reactive: You don't take refusals personally; you stick to the plan and escalate appropriately.

Behaviour support confident: Comfortable with complex behaviours, ABI, and trauma-informed practice.

Safety-first operator: Excellent judgment in higher-risk contexts (including AOD exposure), knows when to pause and escalate.

Great communicator: Clear handovers, objective notes, team player.

Minimum experience: Minimum 6 months experience in disability support or residential care settings

Must-Haves

NDIS Worker Screening Check

WWCC (Paid/Employee)

First Aid & CPR (current)

Current Australian Driver Licence and reliable vehicle with comprehensive insurance

Right to work in Australia

National Criminal History Check (or ability to obtain)

Physical capability to assist with personal care and mobility support

Highly Regarded

Cert III/IV Individual Support, Community Services, Mental Health, or related (or willingness to complete)

Experience with ABI, complex behaviours, and AOD contexts

Proven use of BSPs, ABC reporting, incident management, and de-escalation frameworks

Training & Support

Paid induction and shadow shifts

Behaviour support refreshers and escalation pathways

Ongoing coaching with the Residential Manager and clinical team

Why Join SHCS

Impactful work with strong wrap-around support

Real progression: casual to part-time for consistent high performers

Inclusive, supportive culture that recognises great practice

How to Apply

Apply via SEEK with your CV and a brief cover note outlining:

Day Shift or Sleepover preference (or both),

Your experience with ABI/complex behaviours, and

A short example of staying calm and assertive during a behavioural escalation.